After a number of teasers over the past few weeks, Yashica has finally launched its 'unprecedented camera' on Kickstarter: meet the Y35 digiFilm camera. The description page does not offer an awful lot of technical detail, but it looks like the Y35 is relatively simple digital camera in a retro-style body that comes with a unique feature: interchangeable digital 'film' cartridges that Yashica calls digiFilm.

The camera doesn't actually save any images on the digiFilm (it has an SD-card slot for that) but instead ISO, color and digital filter settings are controlled by inserting a digiFilm cartridges. How's that for a gimmick?

To start with, Y35 users will be able to choose from an ISO1600 High Speed digiFilm for grainy images and shooting fast moving subjects, an ISO 400 Black & White digiFilm, an ISO 200 Ultra Fine digiFilm, and a ISO 200 "6 x 6" cartridge that makes the camera capture square images.

Given most settings are adjusted by inserting a digiFilm cartridge, the camera body itself doesn't offer a great deal of control. There's only a "winder" to set the camera up for the next capture, and a shutter speed dial. The rest of the specifications are in line with quite basic digital cameras: images are captured on a 1/3.2-inch 14MP sensor and the lens comes with a 35mm equivalent focal length and F2.8 aperture.

You can reserve an early bird Yashica Y35 digiFilm special for $124 on the Kickstarter page. This will get you the Yashica Y35 camera and the ISO 200 Ultra Fine digiFilm, plus a Yashica digiFilm post card. The package for $142 includes an additional digiFilm of your choice. Delivery is planned for April 2018, assuming the camera gets funded.

Comments

I still have all my Yashica (3 of) and contax (4 of) cameras plus a bronica SQ 6x6, plus all the lenses ,11. and accessories. I now have 4 canon DSLRs and a mirrorless eos.I still get the film cameras out to play with, I do not get the urge to play with a digital camera, very good cameras but its not the same as holding a film camera.

I used Yashika cameras for 8 yrs, lovely cameras, I then went over to Contax cameras, made by Yashika, this stupid product is using the Yashika name and does not come any where near a real Yashika camera for quality.this business of selling names should be controlled better. maybe the Zenit would be a possible name for a low quality product like this

I still use mine. (FX-D, FX-3, Contax 167mt) YASHICA was a brand of Kyocera, because they bought the brand, into 83, and also killed it into 2005. And CONTAX was going out of business into 2005, too. Sadly, the Yashica FX-3, FX-3 and Super 2000 was being already outsourced, and made by Cosina, not Kyocera anymore.

the original idea that was also tried (but failed) in the 1990s is to make a kind of removable sensor that could fit inside existing film cameras ...

the early Kodak sensors for Nikon (or other) cameras were (are) an example of that idea, which also worked relatively well back in the day but also too expensive of course and useless today due to lack of modern higher resolution more than anything else ... or Mamiya / Phase One and so on ...

i believe this is still a really good idea if some company could deliver it as intended, ie, a 135 (or larger format) film camera that can be used for both digital as well as film whenever the photographer wishes to switch between the two formats ... interchangeable film / digital backs would be the best way to go, so film / digital imagery can be switched midway ... and if the price is affordable too, then it would be heaven!

people like film because of its looks. Now almost all digital cameras have filter or film simulations but they are far from film output. (Fuji did great job on film simulations but lets just say it is different than film)So if i want to shoot film i can get film camera...Why will i buy this camera.

This is amazing, and exactly what the camera market needs right now. A camera with no options. Distillation to a single simplistic essence for any product will always draw customers. Not everyone wants 3856 different settings.

This isn't a camera without settings. It's a camera with settings that can only be accessed with~$20 faux film cartridges called digiFilm. Before shooting, you have to choose between cartridges with names like "ISO1600 High Speed," "Black and White," "ISO200 Ultra Fine," "120 Format (6x6)," and "Unexpected 2017 ( in my fancy)." And, yes, I am serious about the name of that last one. Then you have to open the back and insert the cartridge, kind of like a toy camera with pretend film.

It is FAR SMALLER than the Yashica Electro 35, at only about 71% of the size. Its under 4" wide! I've created an image that shows the relative sizes of the Yashica Electro 35 GS and this new Yashica Y35:

Please accept my sincere apologies. I thought that the Yashica Electro 35 MC was the same size as the typical Electro 35 series cameras. I would delete my comment if I could, but I do not have that option on here.

They now claim that they are increasing the lens speed to f/2.0 and are considering adding two or three f-stops one can select -- probably because they could not possible have a fast enough shutter to shoot outdoors in sunshine at f/2.0. But still fixed focus.

They are trying to get as much money from as many people as possible while delivering the lowest cost (not price) product. Why else would you go with a smaller sensor than many cell phone cameras?

If the cartridge sets the ISO and the aperture is fixed at f/2.8 how does the manual shutter speed work? Are you supposed to guess? Or is it a choice between proper and improper exposure. Gimmick aside, this makes little sense.

Yes, you are supposed to "eyeball" the exposure. That means, you are supposed to use your eyes, brain, and experience together as a metering sensor. It's not a guess. It is experience. It is normal for old-time professional photographers. (and not so old pro-pho wannabees, like myself)

I backed the Silence Black edition. I think it's actually a really cool way to learn about film and if someone is learning, it will make them think about what and how they want to shoot before setting out. It won't replace my RX1R2 but for $350 it's an interesting piece of camera history. No real settings to mess with, feels like more pure photography. I like the concept!

I think they are just creating deceptive advertising. They aren't saying that it's an autofocus lens -- just that the light is automatically focused by the lens. As if it could do anything else. It's sort of like a single speed transmission that automatically routes power to the pavement.

Credit to the marketing team; that was indeed unexpected. Credit to the design team; someone was listening to the small crowd who keep asking for a digital camera that replicates the film experience. Too bad they completely fumbled on implementation and assumption of who might actually purchase a camera like this.

Will the serious photographers and artists purchase this? No, they would want something that produces higher quality.

Will the amateur I-phone photographers purchase this? No, they can already achieve vintage looks with various filters; the Y35 is far to fiddly for their needs without offering anything of interest.

Will a handful of hipsters purchase this and enjoy it? Perhaps. But this whole concept is easily replicated with ANY digital camera, and it's not hard to imagine ANY manufacturer offering a one button option to replicate this concept on a much better camera.

I pledged about $1 so that I could ask the following questions (where everyone could see the answers or lack thereof):

Lens: 1. Will the lens have any means of being focused? If not, what is the model doing to the lens at 0:30 in the main promo video? 2. Will there be any means of adjusting the aperture to something other than wide-open f2.0?

Country of Origin 1. Will this camera be designed or manufactured in Japan? Is YASHICA's headquarters in Japan? 2. If not, why does the project location shows "Tokyo, Japan?" And why does the video show a lens that says "JAPAN" and have a text crawl that reads "YASHICA...Japanese Camera Brand...Since 1949?"

Yashica hasn't been a "Japanese Camera Brand" in quite some time. Kyocera sold the name to a Hong Kong product distribution and "brand management" company called "The Jebsen Group". In addition to sticking labels like "Yashica" on Hong Kong products, they distribute consumer electronics, commercial electronics, wine, building products, you name it. They're the Hong Kong distributor for Porsch, Kitchenaid, Dyson, Pentax, Richo, Stadler Form, Braun. Casio, John Deer, Lowel, Moen, Spacecam, Stedicam, Arri, Volvo.

Joseph, thanks for your reply. I was aware of the sale of the Yashica name to the MF Jebsen Group in 2008. I want to force the creator to admit that he misrepresented the country of the project and the Yashica brand.

"Will the lens have any means of being focused? If not, what is the model doing to the lens at 0:30 in the main promo video? " You worded it wrong. They will say "Yes, the optical elements keep the lens focused". You have to ask "Will the lens have any means of changing focus?" In that case, they will say "Yes, the focus of the lens can be changed by stepping forward or backward." Either way, they will say "The model was gripping the lens to help hold the camera steady". Actually, I wasn't able to find the video you are referring to. It was 6 days ago. Maybe they posted another.

Body 1. The Electro 35 weighed 697g (24.6 ounces). About how much will the Y35 weigh? Estimates are fine. 2. The Electro 35 body was 140mm x 90mm. The Y35 specs show 100mm x 64mm. Is that right -- the Y35 is only 70% of the size of the Electro 35?

Flash 1. Is there any means of connecting a flash to the camera?Sample photos 1. Were the sample photos taken with your "working prototype"? If not, why -- and what camera was used to shoot the sample photos?

As a kid I had a portable "disc player" toy that used round plastic "discs" with protruding rings on them. When inserted into the player, the pretend-CD's depressed a specific button combination with those protruding rings and a particular song was launched. You could buy those plastic discs to listen to more songs or... you could just break the lid off the player and press those buttons in varying combinations with your fingers. And that's exactly what I did, because even as a little kid I had enough brain to realize how stupid the idea of fake storage was.

And here we are with a once well-respected camera manufacturer seriously marketing the same thing for adults. Not sure if it's hilarious or seriously depressing.

"After working hard with our team for over 30 hours, we found a solution to upgrade the aperture from f2.8 to f2.0. This is a milestone of the upgrade since we need to fix several difficulties of the exposure. With the upgrade of the aperture, we stay at the “aperture priority shooting mode’ from electro 35. The shutter speed will be calculated by the y35 automatically. But be calm, we will add a 5-step exposure control from -2 / -1 / 0 / +1 / +2 and a 1 second exposure mode for you to create your stylish and unique photography."

"The Silence of Story" How about "The silence of not wasting money on this?

To be fair, it looks like a bit of fun and it could find a market, but I'm not sure it's the solution to a problem anyone was having. I think at this price point it can be seen as a modern-day Konica pop, but the advertising is a bit out of kilter with the likely market for this relatively cheap, plasticky product.

If you purchase 3 this year and use them for 10 years, that a lot of students who don't have to buy or develop film. Although, they might learn as much using a real 35mm film camera with no film at all. They could just go through the motions. Don't you remember High School? We studied sociology and never did the real thing. The same was true of economics and history. So, why not a film photography class where nobody takes pictures? It wouldn't be any more ridiculous than school is right now.

This product (in it's form) does not interest me in the slightest but 4600 kickstarter backers disagree with me. I wonder if they are buying it as a toy to play with or just as something that looks cool sitting on a desk or shelf or some other reason.

I expect that there will be a lot of buyers' remorse after the delivery of these cameras. I don't believe that most of the buyers are expecting to receive an all-plastic, fixed focus, fixed f2.0 aperture, 2/3 scale camera with no hot shoe or filter threads.

Please let me know if you have trouble viewing it or believe it to be in error. I'm sure that it's not perfect, but it's probably within 1%. As monitors vary in size, the cameras are not going to display at a 1:1 scale.

I'm certainly not a technical expert, but I'm struggling to understand the concept here. How can it be any sort of advantage or benefit to have to swap out cartridges to essentially change the shooting mode? Seems a really strange idea.

"Seems a really strange idea." Not the first implementation of the principle as Minolta once used memory cards in one of its film cameras to provide settings which later became part of every digital camera's menu.

I was a Yashica retailer decades ago, using their TLR and Electro Series for my personal photography. The Electro 35 GSN was one of the great classics for many years. Though this new plasticky toy doesn't even come close, I'm guessing many will have fun with it, and some fairly nice images will result.

If this thing has true rangefinder focus then I'm gonna buy this. Consider this: you can't review your pics. You rely on the digifilm to adjust the look, but only in advance. You have to admit it will bring a certain thrill to shooting scenery like in film days. And this time it doesn't cost $6.5k like the Leica M262.

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